THE £500,000 Georgian Theatre Experience in Richmond, North Yorkshire, will be officially opened today (Thursday, July 7) by the chief executive of Welcome to Yorkshire, Sir Gary Verity.

Set to become one of the region’s key heritage tourist attractions, the Experience offers a fascinating insight into the history of Britain’s most complete Georgian playhouse and will provide an insight into what life was like in a leading 18th Century provincial town.

The project has been supported by a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund and a generous legacy from Paul Iles, a former associate director of the theatre. There is a redeveloped exhibition area behind the stage, and a new education and learning centre adjacent to the Theatre on Friars Wynd.

Guided tours will include looking inside dressing rooms, discovering hidden trap doors and treading the boards of its historic stage. The new exhibition centre boasts interactive displays, digital presentations and theatrical exhibits plus the important part the building played in Richmond’s illustrious Georgian past.

A key exhibit is the Woodland Scene, acknowledged to be Britain’s oldest surviving scenery set, painted between 1818 and 1836. Thanks to a second grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund for £71,000, it has now been restored and exhibited to museum grade standards.

“The Georgian Theatre Royal is a beautiful building, and as Britain’s most complete Georgian playhouse, it has a rich and fascinating history, which visitors will now be able to discover for themselves,” says Sir Gary Verity.

In addition to the daily tours, there is also a full programme of activities and events throughout the year, including talks and workshops. The first of school holidays events, featuring children’s activities will be a major part of Richmond’s forthcoming Georgian festival (GeorgeFest16) which runs between August 15 and September 2.

As an extra resource, the theatre has been able to update its extensive archive which includes playbills, images and scripts from the different eras of its history. It is currently accessible to the public by appointment, but large sections of it will be available online.

“After many months of planning and building work, we are delighted to unveil this exciting new attraction, which will hopefully draw visitors from miles around and appeal to all ages,” says the theatre’s chief executive, Clare Allen. “The theatre has always been a key tourist destination in the area with its popular guided tours, but we look forward to welcoming even more people through our doors in the years ahead.”

Malcolm Bryant, chair of the theatre’s Board of Trustees has expressed thanks to contractors, designers, archivists, theatre staff and, particularly, the voluntary tour guides.

* The Georgian Theatre Experience will be open from Monday to Saturday, mid-February to the end of November and tours start on the hour from 10am to 4pm. Admission (including tours) costs £5 for an annual pass, with children £2 and English Heritage Members £4.

Viv Hardwick